Farewell Khalid Ali Zai

 
Khalid Ali Zia (9 February 1956 - 15 December 2020)

Decembers have always been cold. These have already robbed two of our precious friends, brothers and course mates; Javed Baloch and Mustafa Maan. And as if this was not enough to satisfy the coldness of Decembers as just today, we lost yet another gem of a person; Khalid Ali Zai. Today when I got up for the morning prayers, and opened the WhatsApp group, I was pain stricken to read the sad news as just a few hours ago, that is at 3 AM on 15th December 2020, Ali Zai lost his battle to Covid-19, a battle he was almost on the verge of winning. 

From young Mohammad Khalid Ali Zai to present day Ali Zai, the innocence and smile was never lost

PMA Days - Cooling off during Exercise Yarmuk in First Term

Tariq Seniors-2 Final Term group photo - Ali Zai stands fourth from the left

A young Captain Ali Zai posing with a friend

I, along with late Mumtaz Hussain, was at Kharian back in 1996 where Ali Zai was also posted as the Officer Commanding the Divisional Battle School of the Armoured Division. And his office was our often venue for a cup of tea amid jokes by Ali Zai and Mumtaz – and I being the clapping third. I wish we have had a few photos taken together. 

After retirement, Ali Zai was posted as DG NADRA Quetta. Herein under are two memorable photos of Ali Zai in Salim Nawaz office who was then IG FC Balochistan. These photos were shared by late Zaffar Iqbal Durrani who was also in Quetta in those days:

Ali Zai was a loving husband and father and a true friend. He was more of a friend than a father to his sons. 

2008 Get Together Abbottabad - Ali Zai receives golfer's prize from Azhar Ali Shah

The last get together at Sargodha 2019 - Ali stands 9th from the left. This get together was the last with him - the next gathering will be without him, sadly!!

Khalid Ali Zai was one of the most lovable course mates of ours, always wore a hearty smile and was readily forthcoming to any event. He was ever cheerful and lively and would always bring life to his surroundings whatever attending an event, specially the course get-together and when the drums started to beat and music started to play, Ali Zai would be the first to hit the floor and danced endlessly in his typical Pathan style dance.

Hailing from D I Khan, Ali Zai settled in Lahore and was one of the most seen and participative course mates in al course and group gatherings. Above is one such liveliest photo of Ali Zai, seen joining a group of others at a brunch with his typical hearty smile.

In recent times, he had become an active Yogi and had been conducting yoga classes in Lahore. He was also the secretary of the Pakistan Yoga Society. Every other day we would see him in his track suit and putting his students to test. Seeing me getting overweight, he would often ask me to start Yoga. I wish I could tell him that I had become a yogi. But neither did I become a yogi nor I could tell him that I would one day. And before that could become a realty, fell prey to Covid-19 and was gone leaving us all in a state of shock for who could even think of a super fit man succumbing to this deadly disease. 

 

Only death could rob this hearty smile from Ali Zai

Although he was not well, but there was a hope of his survival for he was a bold warrior. The hope kept rising and falling and after administration of the plasma many hoped for his revival  But the Nature had its own plans, and Ali Zai was called back to Heavens for his task in this world was over. Thursday evening in Lahore was a cold and sad December day when a large number of course mates bid him farewell with a very heart. An ever smiling face finally obscured from all us forever.

Such like goodbyes are for us to strive to bring reforms in our behavior's to please Allah. His departure is a warning for all of us who remain to turn to Allah and ask forgiveness and repent our errors of of our lives for one never knows when the angel of death would knock on our doors as well.

There could be no befitting epitaph for Ali Zai than the following pottery shared by Zahid Khan on the Brothers' forum:  

رخصت ہوا تو آنکھ ملا کر نہیں گیا 

وہ کیوں گیا ہے یہ بھی بتا کر نہیں گیا 

وہ یوں گیا کہ باد صبا یاد آ گئی 

احساس تک بھی ہم کو دلا کر نہیں گیا 

یوں لگ رہا ہے جیسے ابھی لوٹ آئے گا 

جاتے ہوئے چراغ بجھا کر نہیں گیا 

بس اک لکیر کھینچ گیا درمیان میں 

دیوار راستے میں بنا کر نہیں گیا 

شاید وہ مل ہی جائے مگر جستجو ہے شرط 

وہ اپنے نقش پا تو مٹا کر نہیں گیا 

گھر میں ہے آج تک وہی خوشبو بسی ہوئی 

لگتا ہے یوں کہ جیسے وہ آ کر نہیں گیا 

تب تک تو پھول جیسی ہی تازہ تھی اس کی یاد 

جب تک وہ پتیوں کو جدا کر نہیں گیا 

رہنے دیا نہ اس نے کسی کام کا مجھے 

اور خاک میں بھی مجھ کو ملا کر نہیں گیا 

ویسی ہی بے طلب ہے ابھی میری زندگی 

وہ خار و خس میں آگ لگا کر نہیں گیا 

شہزادؔ یہ گلہ ہی رہا اس کی ذات سے 

جاتے ہوئے وہ کوئی گلہ کر نہیں گیا

May Allah accept our prayers for the departed soul. May Allah be pleased with Alizai. May Allah bless Khalid Ali Zai and all our course mates who have left us earlier than us and rest their souls in peace up in the heavens. May ALLAH have special blessing on them all. May they live very happy in Heavens above. Ameen. 

Please refer to our Reference Page to read about all those of us who have left us midway for their Heavenly abode.